KING "Tis my soul"s aim To tie it upon a faster knot.
CARDINAL I do not see How you can with safe conscience get it from her.
KING Oh I know I wrestle with a lioness. To imprison her And force her to it, I dare not. Death! What King Did ever say "I dare not"? I must have it; A b.a.s.t.a.r.d have I by her, and that c.o.c.k Will have, I fear, sharp spurs, if he crow after Him that trod for him. Something must be done Both to the hen and the chicken. Haste you therefore To sad Onaelia, tell her I"m resolved To give my new hawk bells, and let her fly.
My Queen, I"m weary of, and her will marry.
To this, our text, add you what gloss you please; The secret drifts of kings are depthless seas.
Exeunt
ACT 1 SCENE 2
A table set out covered with black. Two waxen tapers. The King"s [defaced] picture at one end and a crucifix at the other. Onaelia [dressed in black] walking discontentedly weeping to the crucifix.
A Song.
QUESTION Oh sorrow, sorrow, say where do"st thou dwell?
ANSWER In the lowest room of h.e.l.l.
QUESTION Art thou born of human race?
ANSWER No, no. I have a fury"s <2> face.
QUESTION Art thou in city, town or court?
ANSWER I to every place resort.
QUESTION O why into the world is sorrow sent?
ANSWER Men afflicted best repent.
QUESTION What dost thou feed on?
ANSWER Broken sleep.
QUESTION What takest thou take pleasure in?
ANSWER To weep, To sigh, to sob, to pine, to groan, To wring my hands, to sit alone.
QUESTION Oh when, oh when, shall sorrow quiet have?
ANSWER Never, never, never, never, Never till she finds a grave.
Enter Cornego.
CORNEGO No lesson Madam but Lacrymae"s? <3> If you had buried nine husbands, so much water as you might squeeze out of an onion had been tears enough to cast away upon fellows that cannot thank you. Come, be jovial.
ONAELIA Sorrow becomes me best.
CORNEGO A suit of laugh and lie down would wear better.
ONAELIA What should I do to be merry, Cornego?
CORNGO Be not sad.
ONELIA But what"s the best mirth in the world?
CORNEGO Marry this, to see much, say little, do little, get little, spend little and want nothing.
ONELIA Oh, but there is a mirth beyond all these; This picture has so vexed me, I"m half mad, To spite it therefore, I"ll sing any song Thyself shall tune. Say then, what mirth is best?
CORNEGO Why then Madam, what I knock out now is the very marrowbone of mirth and this it is.
ONELIA Say on.
CORNEGO The best mirth for a lawyer is to have fools to his clients; for citizens to have n.o.blemen pay for their debts; for tailors to have store of satin brought in, for then how little soever their houses are, they will be sure to have large yards. The best mirth for bawds is to have fresh handsome wh.o.r.es, and for wh.o.r.es to have rich gulls come aboard their pinnaces <4>, for then they are sure to build gallea.s.ses <5>.
ONELIA These to such souls are mirth, but to mine, none.
Away.
Exit Cornego, Enter Cardinal.
CARDINAL Peace to you, Lady.
ONELIA I will not sin so much as to hope for peace And "tis a mock ill suits your gravity.
CARDINAL I come to knit the nerves of your lost strength, To build your ruins up, to set you free From this your voluntary banishment, And give new being to your murdered fame.
ONELIA What Aesculapius <6> can do this?
CARDINAL "Tis from the King I come.
ONELIA A name I hate.
Oh, I am deaf now to your emba.s.sy.
CARDINAL Hear what I speak.
ONELIA Your language breathed from him Is death"s sad doom upon a wretch condemned.
CARDINAL Is it such poison?
ONELIA Yes, and were you crystal, What the King fills you with would make you break.
You should my Lord, be like these robes you wear, Pure as the dye, and like that reverend shape Nurse thoughts as full of honour, zeal and purity.
You should be the court-dial, and direct The King with constant motion, be ever beating, Like to clock-hammers, on his iron heart To make it sound clear and to feel remorse.
You should unlock his soul, wake his dead conscience Which, like a drowsy sentinel, gives leave For sin"s vast armies to beleaguer him.
His ruins will be asked for at your hands.
CARDINAL I have raised up a scaffolding to save Both him and you from falling. Do but hear me.